To meet surging demand for digital skills in areas outside London, Leigh Ingham MP and Dan Aldridge MP – Co-Chairs of Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Digital Inclusion – brought Google Digital Garage to their constituencies on Friday 5 September, delivering a full day of free training for local businesses and residents.

The MPs worked with Google to bring the flagship programme to Stafford and Weston-super-Mare, ensuring that communities outside of London – too often left behind by the digital economy – had access to world-class skills support.

Between the two events, over 100 people took part in workshops, one-to-one mentoring, and networking with Google’s expert trainers. Sessions covered everything from growing a business online and improving social media reach, to harnessing artificial intelligence and building digital confidence.

Leigh Ingham MP, Co-Chair of the Digital Inclusion APPG, said: “The turnout in Stafford of over 50 people proves there’s real appetite for digital skills in our community. Small businesses across the country have huge potential, but they need the right tools to reach customers online and compete with the big players. It’s not fair that big cities have a wealth of digital training opportunities while smaller towns and rural areas risk missing out – and that’s exactly the gap we are closing.”

Dan Aldridge MP, Co-Chair of the Digital Inclusion APPG, said: “The digital divide is holding too many people back. That divide is particularly stark across regions: while London and the South-East report some of the highest rates of digital access, coastal communities like Weston-super-Mare can get left behind, with fewer opportunities for training, and lower confidence using digital tools.

“That’s why these events, and the work of the Digital Inclusion APPG, matter; it’s about rebalancing the scales and giving our entrepreneurs the confidence and know-how to thrive in a digital economy.”

The APPG on Digital Inclusion brings together parliamentarians, industry, and civil society to tackle barriers to connectivity, affordability, and confidence. Its aim is to ensure that digital access reaches every part of the UK.

Since launching in 2015, Google Digital Garage has visited more than 500 towns, villages, and cities across the UK, training over 700,000 people face-to-face and online. The programme is part of Google’s “Getting Britain Growing” initiative, providing free skills training and mentoring to individuals and businesses.